Precision timer



Aug, M, 1945-. E. TIMES 2,382,833

PRECIS ION TIMER Filed June 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 14, 1945. E, MBS 2,332,833

PRECISION TIMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jun 23, 1944 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 PRECISION TllVIER Edward Timbs, Los Angeles, l Calif., assignor to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 23, 1944, Serial No. 541,834

7 Claims.

This invention relates to precision timers and more particularly to a timing device adapted to control the ow of a fluid under pressure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a timing device which is precision controlled to determine accurately the intervals of opening and closing of a valve controlling the flow of a iiuid under pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a precision timer for actuating a valve in a fluid pressure supply system which is adapted to be driven by a precision instrument such as a clock mechanism, or synchronous electrical motor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a precision timing mechanism which includes a rocking beam carrying a movable weight, which rocking beam is pivoted to rotate in accordance with the load as determined by the moving weight and wherein means are provided for actuating the' rocking beam which permits of the independ- A small synchronous electric motor with no change l to the timer except the change of power units.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the precision timer embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof with the enclosing case broken away to illustrate the operating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken substan- I tially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a, diagrammatic view illustrating an adaptation of the precision timer embodying my invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View vof a modiiied form of timer mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 7 is an end view thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have f shown in Figure 5 the adaptation of the precision timer in a'uid pressure supply system wherein the timer diagrammatically illustrated at I is utilized for controlling the intervals of time dur- 55 ing which gas under pressure flows through a pipe 2 to provide gas under pressure for raising a iluid such as oil in a Well. The timer I is supported upcn a leg 2' which is suitably held by means of a bracket 3 upon the pipe structure.

Mounted in the pipe 2 is an inlet valve 4 by which the flow of gas into the pipe 2 may be manually controlled. A similar discharge control valve '5 is provided in the pipe 2. A valve 6 controls flow of gas through the pipe 2 in accordance with the pressure of the gas. The operation of the motor valve 6 from closed to open position is controlled by means of a pressure diaphragm 'I so that when there is a sufficient pressure of gas upon the upper surface of the diaphragm 1, the valve 6 is moved to an open position to permit direct flow of gas under pressure through the pipe 2 and out through the discharge valve 5. The operation of the diaphragm 'I is preferably controlled by low pressure gas from any suitable or desirable source and this low pressure gas is admitted to the upper surface of the diaphragm 'I through a conduit 8 from a supplyconduit 9. As viewed in Figure 3, the supply conduit 9 and the conduit 8 leading to the diaphragm 'I are connected into a valve block I0. The valve block Ill has formed thereina valve chamber II in which a valve block I2 is mounted. The conduit 8 is in communication with the chamber II through a duct I3 while the supply conduit 9 communicates with the chamber II through an inlet duct I4 formed in the block I0.

The valve I2 has a conical head I5 adapted to seat on a correspondingly formed seat I6 formed in the control passage Il which connects the inlet duct I4 with the chamber II. The valve -I2 is connected by means of a valve stem I8 with an upper plug I9 vwhich is mounted to reciprocate in the vertical branch 2U of the valve block I0.

The valve block I0 is mounted in a frame 2| supp ported upon the base 22 of the timer. The frame 22 is provided at its upper end with a horizontal plate 23 having an aperture therein through which the valve block branch 20 extends.

Securing nuts 24 and 25 are threaded to the As the point of engagement of the valve lever V 28 is relatively close to the center of the pin 21,

A rocker 33 is fulcrumed on pins 34 carried, by

the frame 2|. This rocker 33 is formed to provide a channel 35 in which a weighted ball 36 is adapted to travel. The rocker 33 has end plates 31 between which there is mounted a retention' rod 38 adapted to engage the ball 36 and retain the ball in rolling position within the channel 35.

The rocker 33 is provided with a Pressure foot' 39 adapted to engage the upper end of the screw 3I to depress the lever 28 under the weight of the ball 36 and hence move the valve plug I9 downward to depress the valve I2 in the valve chamber II and permit gas to flow through the spiral groove 4U of the plug from the inlet pipe 9 to the conduit 8 leading to the diaphragm 1. Means are provided for rocking the rocker 33, which means provide for the precision opening and closing of the valve I2 so that gas may ow to the diaphragm 1 for the opening and closing of the valve 6 in accordance with the desired timing of the ow of gas or other fluid under pressure through the conduit 2. This means is preferably of the following construction:

Mounted in the frame 2| is a shaft 4| which is journaled upon bearings 42. Secured to the opposed ends of the shaft 4| beyond the frame 2| are timing discs 43 and 44. Each .of the timing discs 43 and 44 has a plurality of edge perforations 45 adapted to receive securing screws 46 for ailixing of the cam surface members 41 in selected positions around the periphery of the disc. These cam members present inclined cam faces 48 which project beyond the edge of the discs 43 and 44, pass under and engage cam rollers 49 and U carried respectively at the opposed ends of the rocker 33. The cam rollers arecarried on the lower surface of the rocker 33 on pins 5| mounted in brackets 52.

By varying the positions of the cam members 41 on the periphery of the two timing discs 43 and 44 and as said discs are driven in rotation, it will be apparent that the rocker 33 is alternately tipped to and from the position illustrated in Figure 2 on its carrying trunnion 34 with the result that the ball 36 rolls back and forth through the channel 35 to engage the respective ends 31 of the rocker 33. When the ball 36 occupies the position shown in Figure 2, the rocker is disengaged from the valve actuating lever 28 permitting the spring 29 to move the valve plug I2 to closed position shutting on the gas flow. When the ball 36 is rolled to the opposite end of the rocker 33 its weight causes the lever 28 to be depressed with the result that the plug I9 within the branch 29 moves downwardly therein, moving the valve I2 to open position. Thus an exact timing of the opening and closing of the valve may be had, depending only upon the timingl or speed of rotation of the shaft 4I. 7

Any suitable or desirable means may be provided for rotating the shaft 4|, which means as herein illustrated may include a pinion 53 which is secured to the shaft 4 ute hand shaft of the clock mechanism and is therefore driven at a denite speed as determined by the clock mechanism. The utilization of the clock as a driving means is particularly advantageous in places where other sources of power y are not available or convenient and by employing for example an eight-day clock mechanism for driving the gear 51, it is apparent that the spring driving the clock mechanism will only have to be periodically wound in order to carry out illnetions of the precision timing means.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated a modification wherein the drive gear 51 is driven through the medium of a reduction gear 59, the enclosing case of which is mounted on the base 22 in the position of the clock case 58. This reduction gearing may be suitably driven by a synchronous electric motor diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4 at 6I).v In this case the synchronous electric motor drives the driven shaft 5| of the reduction gearing while the driving gear 51 is secured rto driven shaft 62 of the reduction gearing. Any suitable or desirable form of reduction gearing Vmay be employed so that it is deemed unnecessary to describe in full the reduction gearing illustrated.

In Figures 6 and '1 I have indicated a further modified form of my invention wherein the timingv means of my invention is utilized for the controlled timing actuation of a solenoid valve. In this modification I have not shown the details of the valve but have illustrated the adaptation of the timing means of my invention for controlling the actuation of a switch positioned in the electric circuit leading to the solenoid (not shown) utilized for actuation of the valve.

In this modification of my invention the rocker 33a is adapted `to be actuated by a pair of timing discs 43a and 44a substantially as described and illustrated in connection with the modification of Figures 1 to 5, inc1usive.- The discs 43n and 448L may be driven by any suitable timing means such as a small synchronous electric motor or a spring-wound clock, which power means are interchangeably used as described in connection with the previously described modification. The rocker 33a of this modification is pivotally supported on a pivot 34a. At `the end of the lever 28a :there is positioned an vactuating pin 32a supported in position to engage Ithe actuating button 39a ofa mercoid switch 60?. This mercoid switch is connected within the electric circuit indicated by the wires 6|a leading to the solenoid (notshown) for actuating a control valve which may be mounted in the low pressure lines 8 and 9 for supplying pressure to the diaphragm 1 for actuation of the control valve 6.

The lever 28a is supported by the opposed frame plates 2|. `Also supported by the frame plates 2|?l is a. stop pin 62a positioned upon the opposite side of the pivot 34B to limit the rocking movement of the rocker 33,

In this modification the rocker 33a is similar Ito that'heretofore set forth in connection with y free movement of the ba'll 36a.

It will be noted in connection with the modication of Figures l to 4, inclusive, that a similar adjustable limit stop is provided at 82 on the opposite side of the pivot 34 from the pin 32.

In the modiiication of this invention described, it will be apparent that the ball 3Ba in its movement over the pivot 34a provides the force forv actuating the lever arm 28 or for actuation of the mercoid switch 60a. lBy the utilization of such a ball to provide the actuating force, the motor, whether it be a spring-wound clock or a small synchronous electric motor, which is used for driving the timer need only be of minimum power output as the function provided by such motor is to place the ball in operation, which function may be performed over a relatively long period of time with respect ,to the precise and instantaneous operation desired and required for the precise timing effected through the actuation of the valve positioned within the low pressure line 8, 9.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do noi'l wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A timer including a valve member adapted to control the flow of a fluid under pressure, a valve' actuating member, a rocker member,

means for pivotally supporting the rocker mem p ber, means operatively interposed between the Valve actuating member and .the rocker member for moving the valve actuating member when the rocker member is rocked to one position, the rocker member carrying thereon a Weight member adapted to pass over the pivotI and to retain the rocker member in position Ito which it is rocked on its pivot, and a pair of actuating discs having means adjustably positioned upon their periphery for engaging the rocker member to periodically rock the same around the pivot, and means for driving the disc members.

2. In a timer, the combination of a rocker, means for pivotally supporting the rocker between its ends, the rocker providing a trough, a ball rmounted in the trough to travel therein over the pivot so that the ball retains the rocker member in the position to which it is rocked on the pivot in accordance with the location of the ball in the trough, a timing means adapted at denite intervals of time to engage the rocker member to rock the same on its pivot, and a means for driving the timing means.

3. In a precision timer having a valve therein adapted to control the flow of fluid in a conduit, the combination of a frame member, means operatively supported by the frame for actuating the valve member, a rocker member for periodically actuating said valve actuating means, means for pivotally supporting the rocker member between its ends, the rocker member providing a trough having a weighted ball adapted to travel therein, a' pair of spaced timing discs, timing elements secured in selected positions around the periphery of said timing discs, said timing discs being spaced apart so that the timing elements carried thereby will engage opposite ends of the rocker member, and means for driving the timing discs so that they will pass through a complete revolution during a definite period of time.

4. In a timer, the combination of a rocker, means for pivotally supporting the rocker between its ends, a rolling member mounted Within the rocker to travel therein over the pivot, a rotating timing means having peripheral engaging elements for engaging the rocker member to rock the same on its pivot, means for driving the timing means, actuating means adapted to be engaged by the rocking member and adapted to be actuated by the weight of the rolling member as it is moved over the pivot to rock the rocking member.

5. A timer for actuating a valve member to control the iiovvl of a iiuid, means for actuating the valve, a rocker member, means for pivotally supporting the rocker member, means operatively 'interposed between the valve actuating member and the rocking member for operating the valve actuating member, the rocker member having mounted therein a Weighted rolling member adapted to pass over the pivot to cause the rocker member to engage the valve actuating member and to actuate the same under the force of the weighted rolling member, and means for rocking the actuating member on its pivot at denite predetermined time intervals to cause the weighted member to roll over the pivot of the rocking member.

6. In a precision timer for actuating a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in a conduit,

the combination of a frame member, a valve actuating means supported by the frame, a rocker member pivotally supported between its ends by the frame, means carried by the rocker member providing an enclosed track, a weighted rolling member mounted on the track and yadapted to travel therealong as the rocker member is rocked on its pivot whereby the weight of the rolling member is utilized to actuate the valve actuating member, and means adapted to engage the rocker member at deiinite timed intervals to rock the same on its pivot.

7. In a precision timer for operating a valve controlling the flow of uid in a conduit, the combination of a frame member, means operatively supported by the frame member for actuating the valve, a rocker member for periodically operating said valve actuating member, means for pivotally supporting the valve actuating member between its ends, the rocker member providing an enclosed track, a rolling weighted member adapted to travel in the track, a pair of spaced timing discs, timing elements secured in selected positions around the periphery of said timing discs, said timing discs being spaced apart so that the timing elements being carried thereby will engage opposite ends of the rocker member, and means for carrying the timing discs so that they will pass through a complete revolution ,during a definite period of time.

EDWARD TIMBS. 

